Transcript of "Family Reunification Pilot, Alameda County, CA"

1.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION
HOUSING PILOT
ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA
6.1 Partnering with Child Welfare Agencies to End Family
Homelessness
National Conference on Ending Homelessness
Washington, DC July 22-24, 2013

7.
Program Description: $$
 Funded by Title IV Foster Care Waiver Funds
 Alameda County one of two in California using a federal
foster care waiver that block grants funds and allows for
innovative strategies to reduce costs and out of home
placements
 Will operate from August 2012
thru June 2014 when waiver
expires.
 Total funding = $850,000

8.
How Did We Make this Happen?
 Used data
 Demonstrated overlap of foster care and shelter
families
 Demonstrated cost effectiveness of rapid rehousing
 “Our expertise can solve your problem”
 Made the case that stable housing supports successful
family reunification and we know housing
 Focus on housing services and some income supports,
not the clinical or parenting needs of the families

9.
How Did We Make this Happen?
 Negotiated by EveryOne Home, Alameda County’s
CoC, rather than single provider
 Built on existing relationships and success of HPRP
 Program pilots are much easier to say yes to

10.
Program Description: Who
For families in “Reunification” or “Maintenance” with
Child Welfare
 Reunification = children currently in foster care and
parent(s) that Child Welfare is working with to reunite
with kids. Families have a housing need that must be
addressed as part of the reunification process.
 Maintenance = children have been reunified with
parent(s) but the family faces a housing crisis.
 Families who have lost housing due to children being
taken from home.

11.
Program Description: Partners
Abode Services and Building Futures: family and
rehousing providers provide the direct services
 EveryOne Home: takes referrals, developed forms
and procedures, manages reports
 Alameda County Housing and Community
Development: administers sub-contracts
 Alameda County Social Services Agency Child
Welfare: funder and source of referrals

13.
What We Are Learning?
 Income makes a difference
 19% of enrolled families have income over $1,000/month as reported at
time of referral
 36% have moved to PH so far compared to 13% of families with incomes
below $1,000/month
 The sample size is small so inconclusive
 A number of families are choosing site-based TH
 Some families in Reunification may benefit from longer
subsidies and more services than rapid rehousing
typically provides.
 A pilot is an excellent opportunity to advocate for
change!